

KE Team Hawaii Real Estate Blog: Kailua-Kona Market Trends & Insights


2025 UHNW Real Estate Insights
By Kai Ioh, Founding Member REALM From Residences to Global Strategies The world’s top 0.1 percent no longer just purchase real estate—they engineer residential portfolios. Currency swings, climate resilience, mobility visas, even philanthropic ecosystems now steer where an ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) family plants its next flag. At REALM, we have spent the last three years partnering […]

Hawaii Condo Insurance Crisis
By Kai Ioh | July 2025 Not Our First Rodeo: An Ongoing Crisis If you’ve followed my updates—starting in August 2024 and again in early 2025—you know Hawaii’s condo insurance crisis didn’t arrive overnight. Since last summer, we’ve watched insurance companies pull out, premiums double or triple, and AOAO fees and special assessments soar—just to […]

More Than Neighbors: How Community, Culture, and Connection Shape Longevity on Hawaii’s Big Island
By Kai Ioh | July, 2025 The Science: Community and Longevity Hawaii consistently ranks among the top states for longevity. The reasons are deeper than just climate or healthy food. Research like the Blue Zones studies shows that strong social ties, a sense of belonging, and purpose are just as important as diet or exercise. […]

Lāhainā Noon: Hawaii’s “Zero Shadow Day” and the Sun’s Cruel Beauty
By Kai Ioh | July 2025 The Day the Sun Stands Still: Lāhainā Noon in Hawaii What if you could stand in the sun, look down, and see your shadow simply disappear? Twice a year in Hawaii, the impossible becomes reality. It’s called Lāhainā Noon, a rare moment that reminds us why island life always […]

Where Did the Lychee Go This Year?
By Kai Ioh | July 2025 If you’ve been wondering why there’s been no mention of lychee this year… you’re not the only one. Every summer, Jason Farm’s lychee…

2025 Mid-Year Market Recap: Big Island Luxury Resorts
As we hit the halfway mark of 2025, the Big Island luxury resort market continues to show strength—but with clear signals of recalibration in certain sectors. For buyers and sellers alike, the year has revealed some shifting dynamics, especially in the condo market, while ultra-luxury homes remain in high demand at our most exclusive resorts. […]

How We Delivered the Highest Price Per Square Foot in Iolani
Case Study: Panorama A Record Sale with Vision, Strategy, and Precision at 76-881 N. Pueo Place Just Sold | Iolani | $3.1M — Highest Price-Per-Square-Foot Ever in the Community VISION Maximize value and maintain control for a modern ocean-view home during a shifting market. When the owners of “Panorama,” a 2018-built contemporary home with sweeping […]

Could Compass’ Antitrust Lawsuit Shatter Zillow’s Empire?
Why do we Stand With Compass? What the Zillow Lawsuit Means for You as a Seller. On June 30th Zillow started the so called ZILLOW BAN. Zillow will bar noncompliant listings from appearing on Zillow.com and Zillow Group-owned Trulia.com. Redfin also followed. As a luxury real estate advisors here in Hawaii, one of the most […]

July 2025 Kailua Kona Real Estate Market Update
The Kailua Kona real estate market continues to perform steadily this summer, with the single family home segment leading the way. Meanwhile, the condominium market is showing signs of normalization as inventory levels return to pre-pandemic levels. Here’s a breakdown of the latest market data, how it compares to national trends, and what it means […]

Why the Big Island’s Beaches are the Best in America
Every year, beach lovers across the U.S. tune in to see who tops the list. Since 1991, Dr. Beach – a.k.a. Dr. Stephen Leatherman -has ranked the top 10 beaches in the country based on water quality, sand softness, safety, and environmental stewardship. His 2025 list just became public, and while Cooper’s Beach in Southampton, […]

